WHAT TO SEE IN PALMA DE MALLORCA
What to visit in Palma - The Cathedral of Mallorca
If we had to choose an emblem of Mallorca, this would be the Cathedral, which looks splendid near the sea and the walls of the city of Palma and therefore deserves a visit and contemplate it quietly … without haste.
It is a pride to have in Palma de Mallorca this bastion of Gothic art at its best.
The Cathedral of Mallorca is one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world and unique for its exceptional location by the sea.
It is worth visiting for its grandeur, its space and its light. Its main rose window, located in the apse, is among the largest in Europe. And with it, some light phenomena worthy of being contemplated and of course photographed occur: on February 2 and November 11 the “Festival of Light” takes place.
Also, its great height is stunning: the central nave is the third tallest in the world at 43.74 meters and the side aisles are the tallest in the world at 30.17 meters.
Likewise, we must point out the last two interventions carried out inside the cathedral: that of 1904-1914 by Antoni Gaudí, his baldachin, for example, is hypnotic. And the most recent intervention (in 2007) that incorporated contemporary elements never seen in other cathedrals: the mural created by Miquel Barceló in the Chapel of the Holy of Holies.
From the outside, it is also a wonder. Its reflection in the Parc de la Mar, the lake, is impressive, both day and night.
What to see in Palma - The Bellver castle
Continuing with the symbols, a historical building of Mallorca is the Bellver Castle, with a circular plan, practically unique and perfectly preserved, it dominates the city of Palma, offering spectacular views of the city with the entire bay, part of the Serra de Tramuntana and from the interior of the island.
Bellver Castle is one of the Gothic jewels of Mallorca. It was ordered to be built by Jaume II between 1300 and 1311. It was initially designed as a royal residence, but it has also been used as a fortress, as a refuge in times of plagues/diseases and social revolts, and as a military and political prison. Since 1976 it has housed the Palma History Museum, where you can see the urban development and history of the city of Palma; and visit part of Cardinal Despuig’s collection of Greco-Roman sculpture.
Different famous people were confined in the Bellver Castle: Gaspar Melchor Jovellanos, François Aragó, Arsenio Martinez Campos, Emili Darder, Alexandre Jaume and General Luis de Lacy.
This heritage is recommended to visit with children since this castle seems to be taken from a movie from the Middle Ages.